Lara Dunn likes the longer back of the Robens Observer camping chair and recommends it after testing. Find out more.
The Robens Observer is a lightweight chair of the now widely adopted design that uses lightweight aluminium poles akin to tent poles to create a frame to which a tough nylon seat attaches. The difference is that this chair offers a longer back, offering increased support to either taller users or those who like more support from their seat.
Lara Dunn recommends
This is a sturdy and extremely comfortable seat.- Good for taller users or those looking for more support
- longer pack size
- better suited to even ground
| Quick specs |
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| Price: €74.95 | £84.99 (available from Cotswold Outdoor) Weight: 1257g Material: 420D recycled polyester, mesh fabric, aluminium frame Features: Tough lightweight fabric, mesh panels, carry bag fixes onto frame as a handy organiser pouch, attachment point for Robens bottle holder, optional extra of additional soft ground feet Sizes: One www.robens.de |
With a packsize of 48cm x 10cm x 13cm once it’s rolled into its handy zipped carry case, it’s not huge and does fit in a 30 litre daypack. However, it does take up a fair amount of the useable pack space so is probably best reserved for picnic walks, wildlife or birdwatching or indeed for base camp. As a base camp chair it excels, with 71cm of supportive back, even including a headrest type pad at the top, it’s very comfortable to sit in and is the sort of chair that allows for a quality doze. There’s an eyelet at the side of the seat that can be used to attach a hanging bottle holder for next level camp comfort, and the carrying case can be looped over the frame to provide a handy pouch.
It’s pretty stable and copes well with slightly rough ground but the legs are quite tall so it’s not one for really uneven or rocky terrain. Robens include in their range a set of soft ground feet as an optional extra to make the chair more secure and stable in softer conditions. Assembly is straightforward once the slight curve in the upper poles is taken into account, and the build quality is excellent, with sturdy aluminium poles and a rugged 100% recycled polyester seat. The seat has a maximum load of 120kg and the seat size is generous enough to accommodate that. A sturdy and extremely comfortable seat.
How we tested
Lara used the chairs throughout late winter, spring and early summer on a variety of walks and hikes in the Malvern Hills, Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. She is 5’5” tall with a spinal fusion that means she asks a lot of a camping chair’s comfort!
Compare this with other models in our camping chairs buyers’ guide. This review was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine.
